These are Mother’s Day Traditions Around the World

Posted by Doug Murray on May 4, 2020

If there is one thing many of us in the world have in common, it’s that we wouldn’t have been here had it not been for our mothers. Whether you've found a mother in the woman who reproduced you, another relative, a chosen family or someone else who has stepped up and into the role — Mother's Day is a lovely way to celebrate the amazing women in our lives. It’s no wonder that pretty much every country in the world has some form of Mother’s Day. Even ancient cultures had festivals to honour their mothers. To help you with ideas for Mom’s special day in Canada, let’s take a look at some Mother’s Day traditions around the world.

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United States

Like in Canada, Mother’s Day in the United States falls on the second Sunday in May. It was originally designed as an anti-war protest by pacifist mothers. According to today’s Mother’s Day tradition USA families pamper Mom with gifts and flowers and then go to church. In fact, only Christmas Eve and Easter see more people attending church.

Costa Rica

When it comes to Mother’s Day tradition Costa Rica goes all out. It falls on August 15, the Assumption of Mary, and moms are treated with as much reverence as the Holy Mother herself. People give the most extravagant Mother’s Day gifts they can afford — often home appliances rather than something like beauty gift sets — and often take Mom to her favourite restaurant.

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Japan

Mother’s Day carnations are common in several countries but they have become almost synonymous with the celebration in Japan on the second Sunday in May. Red and pink are the most popular colours because they symbolize purity, sweetness and endurance. Roses are a popular gift too and Japanese mothers also often receive sushi and calligraphy gifts.

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United Kingdom

According to Mother’s Day tradition UK families celebrate the day on Mothering Sunday, which falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent: usually in March or April. After the abundance of celebrating Carnival a month before, Lent is a time for giving up many of life’s little pleasures, so the Mother’s Day traditional food of simnel cake, a kind of fruit cake, makes for a welcome change.

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Italy

In some ways, Mother’s Day tradition in Italy is not that much different from that in Canada. The day falls on the second Sunday in May and the whole family comes together to honour Mamma. Things are kept simple, though, with Mother’s Day cards or poems rather than extravagant gifts. Even this understated celebration is better than back in the 1930s, when the fascist regime used the day to honour the women who bore the most children for the country.

Mexico

If you don't like the sound of mariachi, your packing list for Mexico should definitely include some earplugs if you’re planning to visit around May 10. After all, Mother’s Day tradition here starts with Mom being serenaded, often by contracted musicians playing the song "Las Mañanitas" — "early in the morning".

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Sweden

Mother’s Day in Sweden is celebrated in the usual way, with gifts, cards, and maybe breakfast in bed or a Mother’s Day brunch. What is different is that here, Mother’s Day falls on the last Sunday in May. This means that the weather is better and people can go outside to pick an abundance of Mother’s Day flowers.

Ethiopian

Even though Mother’s Day here officially falls on the second Sunday in May, in Ethiopia, Mom gets three days of celebration. Girls and boys bring the ingredients to make a traditional hash. Mothers and daughters then use one of the more surprising foods to combat dry skin, and in an unexpected way: they anoint themselves with butter.

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Guatemala

In Guatemala, similar to most Mother’s Day traditions around the world, Mom gets the day off while everybody pampers her as the extended family gets together for a feast. The day, which falls on May 10, starts with loud music and fireworks to wish Mom a happy Mother’s Day — at around four in the morning.

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France

In France, Mother’s Day falls on the last Sunday in May, unless that’s Pentecost, in which case Mother’s Day moves to the first Sunday in June. Mother’s Day tradition in France may include mothers raising four or more children being awarded with a medal. For most mothers, however, there is a cake in the shape of flowers, and gifts like the perfect scent for maman.

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North Korea

Mother’s Day in North Korea is fairly recent, dating back to 2012, and falls on November 16. Mother’s Day quotes here may come from a speech by Kim Il-sung, given on November 16, 1961 and called "The Duty of Mothers in the Education of Children". Celebrations here aren’t as much about people’s own mothers as they are about the motherland, complete with parades and wreath-laying ceremonies.

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Serbia

Mother’s Day tradition in other countries is sometimes downright strange when you compare it to our traditions in Canada. In Serbia, Mother’s Day falls on March 8, which is also International Women’s Day. This makes it seem even stranger that according to tradition, children tie up Mom so that she can’t move, until they bring her gifts. However, on Father’s Day Dad gets tied up and on Children’s Day the parents get to tie up the kids.